H-SIG has undertaken the task of creating a searchable All
Hungary Database (AHD) on JewishGen. In addition to enhancing research
capabilities, the AHD raises the visibility of Hungarian Jewish
genealogy on JewishGen and reduces data storage loads on JewishGen
equipment. H-SIG is relying on the support of its members and other
interested volunteers to
accomplish this task.

A project sponsored by the Hungarian SIG of JewishGen to index all of the Jewish vital records of Hungary acquired by FamilySearch for the collection of the Family History Library. The records cover Jewish births, marriages, and deaths primarily for the years 1850-1895. The projects includes about 15,000 images for Bekescsaba, Szkesfehervar, Balassagyarmat, Ujpest, Balkany, Buda, Obuda, Boldogasszony, Kopcseny, Gata Nitra. The completed index will be published as a database on JewishGen.

Over 87,000 records transcribed including all of the LDS microfilms transcribed with over 79,000 records. Transcribers have completed over 8,000 records from the Nyíregyháza County Archive and the Hungarian National Archive.

Other local census, tax lists and household lists were created in the Kingdom of Hungary. Most of these “Conscriptio Judaerum” lists provided the data for calculating the notorious “Tolerance Tax” levied against the Jewish communities throughout Hungary. Beginning in 1747, during the reign of Empress Maria Theresa (1740-1780), the Jews were heavily taxed for the privilege of remaining in the empire, and were threatened with expulsion if they did not pay. While the formula for calculating the taxes seems to have varied over time and location, it appears that size of household, occupation, and income-producing assets were taken into consideration.

Visit the project's home page to obtain further information about these projects.

If you are interested in transcribing records for any of these
projects, contact the project coordinator at the listed e-mail address.
Financial contributions are also welcome – see JewishGenerosity.

If you are interested in developing a database, here’s some
important information you need to know before you get started:

1. Generally H-SIG projects begin in one of two ways – either
the group or an individual identifies LDS microfilm records for
transcription or a member becomes aware of data through their family
research.

2. Members interested in proposing a project should contact Vivian Kahn, H-SIG coordinator at vkahn@kmort.com. If the
project involves other transcribers, we will publicize the project to
the membership and solicit a project coordinator and transcribers.

3. Once a project team is ready to move forward, the JewishGen Hungary Database
coordinator submits a formal proposal to JewishGen. Evaluators review
the proposal and suggest revisions as appropriate. Because of
JewishGen’s strict adherence to copyright laws, all JewishGen projects
undergo a copyright review. This step involves contacting the owners of
the data to obtain their approval of the project. This step is
essential no matter what the source, including LDS microfilms or copies
of archive records.

4. Once the project review is completed and the project is
approved, the project coordinator and teams complete the volunteer
forms and other required paperwork. The project coordinator works with
the JewishGen Hungary Database
coordinator to develop and distribute Excel templates, data
entry instructions and other project tools.